Goedert Unlikely HR Leader

Indians third baseman Jared Goedert hit two home runs in Lake County’™s 5-3 win at Lexington on Wednesday, taking over the minor league lead with 13 bombs this season in the process.

The 2006 ninth-round pick has three homers over his last two games against the Legends, and is hitting .380/.508/.830 overall in an even 100 at-bats.

Goedert draws comparisons to former Indians third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, at least defensively’”there’™s nothing flashy about him, but he makes all the routine plays and has an above-average arm for the position.

“His upside is an average major league third baseman,” Tribe farm director Ross Atkins said. “And he’™s shown us the willingness to get there.”

Hitting for both average and power, the 21-year-old is hitting both lefties (.333) and righanders (.400) well, with more power coming against righthanders’”12 of Goedert’™s 13 homers have come against righties.

But it’™s definitely not just straight pull power.

“He’™s got tremendous raw power, and it’™s not just to left field’”he’™s got pole-to-pole power,” Atkins said. “He’™s not donkey strong, but it’™s just his ability to consistently get good swings on the ball with a line-drive stroke. He’™s able to repeat his swing very well and has been a real addition to that club in Lake County.”